105 mph to the Head

[Chuck]

 

MATT SHOEMAKER / CONTRIBUTOR

105 mph to the Head

When the baseball smacked into the side of my head, it was traveling 105 miles per hour. Yet somehow I didn’t hear a sound.

I never lost consciousness, so I remember everything about that moment.

I can even remember the breath I took before I threw the pitch — just that long, exaggerated inhale through the nose as I focused on hitting my spot, my lungs filling up with air.

Then, after a brief pause, I did what I had done thousands and thousands of times before — I wound up, lifted my left leg to my chest and threw the baseball toward the plate.

It was the second inning. One out. We were in Seattle, last September, playing the Mariners. I was looking to go with a heater inside, but after I released the ball it tailed back over the plate.

And Kyle Seager just flat-out barreled it.

Read Matt's full story here

[Chuck]

Brought back some memories of seeing this live in Seattle, but to read the experience firsthand from Matt. Wow. 

Must read. 

I hope Shoe kills it this season! 

[NJHalo]

Good read, good guy

[Angel Dog and Beer]

3 minutes ago, NJHalo said:

Good read, good guy

+100

[NJHalo]

The look in his eyes in the pic of them trying to help him off the ground says it all.

[Dick B Back]

Nice write up by Matt and just makes you want to root for him even more. Nice job Albert calling the Mrs ASAP.

[Chuck]

25 minutes ago, Dick B Back said:

Nice write up by Matt and just makes you want to root for him even more. Nice job Albert calling the Mrs ASAP.

I don't want to derail the conversation here, but from what I know in the public eye and from Tim Mead, Albert's a wonderful human being. 

It's too bad that those hung up on his contract/$$ or those who were refused an autograph and are all butthurt will just continue hating the guy. 

OK, back to Shoemaker. 

I hope he has a solid outing tonight and incredible season ahead. Great guy! 

[Slegnaac]

Outstanding story 

[katrinab]

read this yesterday, just an amazing story. so glad he is ok and i hope he has a fantastic season

[Bobster7587]

Fascinating read, thanks for posting! I hope Shoe kills it this year!

[mtangelsfan]

Great read, thank you for posting it.

Go Shoe!

[Make Angels Great Again]

Easiest guy to root for in pretty much forever.

[Angelsjunky]

Interesting read, it is hard not to root for Shoe this year.

Sorry Chuck, but Pujols doesn't get a pass because he's a nice guy. His contract sucks.

[Blarg]

Not being able to separate the two means you suck.

But we still love you.

[Chuck]

10 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

Interesting read, it is hard not to root for Shoe this year.

Sorry Chuck, but Pujols doesn't get a pass because he's a nice guy. His contract sucks.

He's been productive when healthy and he's a nice guy. I see no reason to blast him on here daily. You're missing the point.

[Angelsjunky]

1 hour ago, Chuckster70 said:

He's been productive when healthy and he's a nice guy. I see no reason to blast him on here daily. You're missing the point.

I agree that it is silly to hate on him in a daily manner, but that's whether or not he's a nice guy. So if that is your point, I get it and agree. But you seemed to imply that because he's a nice guy, it is silly to be butthurt about his contract, or that he should get a free pass because he's nice.

[Blarg]

Nope but he does everything he can to earn that money, which includes surgery and PT every season he has been with the Angels. Every season and yet he doesn't give up like Hamilton did. You want to hate on a guy that is wasting salary, you've targeted the wrong guy.

[tdawg87]

If I got hit in the head by a baseball travelling that fast I'd be on the ground crying and screaming like a 3 year old Vietnamese girl. And the fat would have absorbed most of the impact. 

Shoe's brain was like "is that all you got you little pansy?" 

[IEAngelsfan]

Excellent read.

Thanks Chuck!

[eligrba]

Great read.

It is hard to imagine what must be going through Shoemaker's head this evening.

 

[VariousCrap]

One of the best guys in the game.  Period.  Also, tough as nails.

[totdprods]

Quickly cementing himself as one of my favorite players. Salmon, Erstad, Percival, Vlad, Anderson, Finley, Trout, Weaver, and Shoemaker. They're all a step above the rest to me. 

[CaliAngel]

1 hour ago, eligrba said:

Great read.

It is hard to imagine what must be going through Shoemaker's head this evening.

 

If you don't forget it's one of those things that can haunt a person forever. He looks to have let it go.